Janesville School Board getting international program update

JANESVILLE — Superintendent Karen Schulte will give school board members an update on the progress of the district's international program Tuesday.

In January, Schulte told the board about the district's first Chinese student, Edward (Jiming Ye), who is attending Craig High School for the spring semester.

Edward is living with a host family while in Janesville and is paying $14,000 in tuition annually and $10,000 annually for room and board.

Schulte also updated the board at that time on the cancellation of a winter institute due to lack of time to prepare a solid program. The district will now plan on an International Summer Institute and Arts Festival.

The Janesville School District has a goal of enrolling up to 100 tuition-paying foreign students by next fall.

Plans have also been discussed to remodel the old Holiday Inn in South Beloit, Ill. to house foreign high school students and college students.

As reported before, UW-Rock County, Janesville School District and Rock County Christian School would accept students living in the hotel.

The upcoming summer institute would provide a cultural experience for students and attempt to attract new students to the district.

The school district first began holding the institutes last summer, when six high school and about 30 elementary schools visited and stayed with host families.

The goal of the institutes is to help students succeed by gradually introducing them to life in an American high school and improving their English fluency.

The institutes put foreign and Janesville students together in an educational program aimed at improving local students' academic performance but also increasing enrollment and revenue, according to district officials.

Other items on the agenda include:

— Revision of board policy on school closings for bad weather.

— Revision of board policy on staff promotion, staffing allocation, class size, work schedules, evaluation, professional improvement, employee development, salaries and group health benefits to put policies in line with employee handbook.

The Janesville School Board meets Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Educational Services Center, 527 S. Franklin St.

The agenda includes:

-- Approval of changes to the district policy governing gifts to the schools. This item is on the consent agenda but could be pulled out for discussion.

-- An update on the Janesville International Education Program from Superintendent Karen Schulte. A presentation on a “winter institute” for Chinese students in January and February also is planned.

-- Presentation of a new plan to improve reading scores for students with disabilities.

-- Presentation of changes to high school graduation requirements, which require students to complete more courses. Students graduating in 2015 will add one credit to the current 22.5. One credit will be added each year until 26.5 credits is reached, for the Class of 2018 and thereafter. The changes are part of a larger plan to increase academic rigor at the high schools.

The board will be asked to approve the graduation-credit policy changes Oct. 29.

-- Discussion and approval of board goals for 2013-14.

- See more at: http://www.gazettextra.com/article/20131004/ARTICLES/131009817#sthash.YDo5SQNi.dpuf

The agenda includes:

-- Approval of changes to the district policy governing gifts to the schools. This item is on the consent agenda but could be pulled out for discussion.

-- An update on the Janesville International Education Program from Superintendent Karen Schulte. A presentation on a “winter institute” for Chinese students in January and February also is planned.

-- Presentation of a new plan to improve reading scores for students with disabilities.

-- Presentation of changes to high school graduation requirements, which require students to complete more courses. Students graduating in 2015 will add one credit to the current 22.5. One credit will be added each year until 26.5 credits is reached, for the Class of 2018 and thereafter. The changes are part of a larger plan to increase academic rigor at the high schools.

The board will be asked to approve the graduation-credit policy changes Oct. 29.

-- Discussion and approval of board goals for 2013-14.

- See more at: http://www.gazettextra.com/article/20131004/ARTICLES/131009817#sthash.YDo5SQNi.dpuf